Tag: Machine Learning

On May 22 and June 4, Congress held hearings on facial recognition technology. The Congressional hearings examine the use of facial recognition technology by federal, state, and local government agencies, corporations and social media companies. Specifically, lawmakers address privacy and civil rights concerns.

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Technological advances have changed the way people work, consume information, and live. Innovations in technology gave impetus to Artificial Intelligence (AI). In recent years, AI has generated controversy. Proponents cite AI’s track record of improving operational efficiency, enhancing target identification efforts, and increasing productivity through automation and big data analytics. Conversely, AI opponents blame automation for fueling unemployment and rising inequality; some have even suggested AI is a threat to humanity. AI is not a threat to humanity; the algorithms and programmers’ methods for developing AI technology and the government’s inability to regulate AI are threats to humanity.

AI is not a threat to humanity. The algorithms and programmers’ methods for developing AI technology, and the government’s inability to regulate AI are threats to humanity .

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence refers to computational systems and programming models that enable machines to acquire and apply knowledge in a way before exclusive to humans.

The Risks of Artificial Intelligence

AI is under-regulated. Accordingly, human bias, Heuristic programming, algorithmic bias, and the government’s inability to keep pace with technological innovations, a prerequisite to meaningful legislation and regulation, are threats to humanity, not AI. AI is as ‘intelligent’ and ethical as the programmers developing it — and the government actors responsible for its oversight. Meaning, the extent to which AI poses a threat to humanity is dependent upon human behavior during the research, development, and evaluation phases of AI technology.

AI is a risk for the poor, women, minorities and job seekers.

Risk Mitigation and the Government’s Role

While strategies to mitigate algorithmic bias are available, they are rarely used. As published by the MIT Technology Review, research indicates “that crucial stakeholders, including the companies that develop and apply machine learning systems and government regulators, show little interest in monitoring and limiting algorithmic bias.” This is problematic. This is problematic because:

AI is increasingly identified as prejudicial with regard to job seekers over the age of 40 years old, people of color, and the poor.

Suggestions for Readers

First, I recommend you conduct a Google search on AI bias. You will find many ways in which AI technology might be harmful. Second, visit CSPAN. You can find and watch Congressional hearings focused on AI there. To be clear, there are societal benefits associated with AI technology. Nevertheless, the risks of AI cannot be ignored.

Recommendations

Industry and government must work together to create:

Strategies to mitigate bias and assure integrity in AI development processes;

AI program monitoring and evaluation techniques; and

Meaningful and effective legislation and regulation (within reason).

AI is not a threat to humanity. The algorithms and programmers’ methods for developing AI technology, and the government’s inability to regulate AI are threats to humanity

Proponents of AI cite its track record of improving operational efficiency, enhancing target identification efforts, and increasing productivity through automation and big data analytics. Conversely, AI opponents blame automation for fueling unemployment and rising inequality; some have even suggested AI is a threat to humanity. AI is not a threat to humanity. The algorithms and programmers’ methods for developing AI technology and the government’s inability to regulate AI are threats to humanity.

Importantly, the extent to which AI poses a threat to humanity is dependent upon human behavior during the research, development, and evaluation phases of AI technology. To be sure, there are societal benefits associated with AI technology. Nevertheless, the risks of AI cannot be ignored. Industry and government must work together to mitigate the risks associated with AI.